Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

It's not often a device feels like a generational leap, but after years of steady, incremental updates, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like it just emerged from a Hyperbolic Time Chamber. The result is a device so profoundly refined that it redefines what a foldable phone can be. It's leaner, more powerful, and crucially, it feels just like a regular smartphone in your hand. But with one fluid motion, it goes Super Saiyan, unfolding into a massive 8-inch multimedia raidboss. Samsung has come tantalizingly close to foldable phone nirvana, but this level of innovation comes at a steep price: a cool $2,000.

Design: A Masterclass in Engineering

Samsung's new "super sleek" design language, first seen on the Galaxy S25 Edge, feels truly transformative on the Z Fold 7. The numbers speak for themselves. Compared to its predecessor, the Z Fold 7 is 10 percent lighter, weighing in at a mere 215 grams. The most dramatic change is its thickness; at just 8.9mm when folded, it's a staggering 26 percent thinner. This is the single largest generational reduction in the Z Fold's history, a remarkable feat seven generations in.

The practical result is a foldable that is now virtually the same size and weight as the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra. The persistent issue of bulk and heft that has plagued foldables since their inception has been, for all intents and purposes, solved.

What's more impressive is that these size reductions haven't come with compromises on durability. The Z Fold 7 retains a robust IP48 rating for dust and water resistance, capable of surviving submersion in up to 5 feet of water for 30 minutes. The device is shielded by Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back. The completely re-engineered Armor FlexHinge is a joy to operate, gliding open and shut with silent, buttery smoothness. Samsung even claims the ultra-thin glass on the main display is 50 percent thicker and reinforced by a new titanium lattice for enhanced durability.

One minor quirk to note is that the hinge sometimes stops just shy of a perfectly flat 180 degrees, settling at around 179 degrees, reminiscent of the first-generation Pixel Fold. A little extra pressure gets it fully flat, but it's an imperfection you'll rarely notice in daily use.

Displays: Bigger, Brighter, and a Necessary Blemish

Both of the Z Fold 7's screens have grown, enhancing the user experience in key ways. The exterior Cover Screen is now a more expansive 6.5 inches, but more importantly, it's significantly wider. The "skinny remote" feeling of past Folds is gone, replaced by a comfortable, fully functional smartphone display with razor-thin bezels.

Inside, the main flexible display has expanded to a tablet-like 8 inches (up from 7.6 inches). Both AMOLED panels are, as expected from Samsung, class-leading. They support a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate and can reach an incredible peak brightness of 2,600 nits, making content pop with richer colors and saturation that outshine even rivals like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

However, there are two significant changes here. First, Samsung has abandoned the under-display camera (UDC) in favor of a traditional hole-punch cutout for the inner selfie camera. While this introduces a small blemish to the otherwise immaculate screen, the trade-off is a massive improvement in image quality from the new, higher-resolution 10MP sensor. Video calls and inner selfies look dramatically better than on any previous UDC-equipped Fold.

The second change is a major one for productivity enthusiasts: Samsung has removed S Pen support. The company cites "very low" usage on previous generations as the reason for this decision. While the data may support this, the S Pen was a signature feature that set the Z Fold apart. Its removal is a disappointing downgrade for the small but passionate group of users who relied on it.

Performance and Software: Unquestionably a Speed Demon

Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an absolute powerhouse. It's equipped with the custom-tuned Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, paired with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. Running on OneUI 8 with Android 16, the experience is flawlessly fast and snappy. Apps launch instantly, and Samsung's software optimizations make multitasking on the large screen a breeze.

The performance gap is tangible. In a head-to-head test launching the demanding mobile game Sword of Convallaria, the Z Fold 7 loaded the game in just 13 seconds. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, by comparison, took 18 seconds. A 25 percent speed advantage might seem small, but it's a difference you feel repeatedly throughout the day.

Cameras: A 200MP Main Event

While the ultrawide and 3x telephoto cameras are largely carried over from the previous generation, the main camera receives a monumental upgrade. The Z Fold 7 now features the same 200MP sensor found in the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra.

This brings a much-needed boost in photographic capability. In bright light, the Z Fold 7 produces stunning photos with vibrant, if slightly oversaturated, colors that hold their own against the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Samsung's tendency to oversharpen images persists, but the detail is incredible, especially if you opt to shoot in the full 200MP mode.

At night, the Fold 7's larger sensor pulls in a lot of light, resulting in surprisingly sharp and clean shots. However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold still holds a slight edge here, with more accurate white balance and consistently sharper focus in challenging low-light scenes. The Pixel's 5x optical zoom also offers more reach than the Fold 7's 3x telephoto. On the selfie front, Samsung has included a new front camera with a wider 100-degree field of view, perfect for group shots.

Battery Life and Charging: Good, Not Great

Despite the slimmer chassis, Samsung has managed to keep the battery capacity at 4,400mAh, the same as its predecessor. Thanks to the improved power efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, longevity has actually increased. In our video rundown tests, the Z Fold 7 lasted 20 hours and 50 minutes on its main display and an impressive 26 hours and 22 minutes on its cover screen—an improvement of nearly an hour over the Z Fold 6.

Charging, however, remains a weak point. The device is still limited to 25W wired charging, which feels sluggish for a flagship phone in 2025. Wireless charging is capped at 15W. Furthermore, like the rest of Samsung's premium line, the phone is only "Qi 2 ready." This means it lacks the built-in magnets for a seamless experience with magnetic chargers and accessories; you'll need a Qi 2-compatible case to get that functionality.

The Verdict

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a stunning testament to Samsung's mastery of hardware engineering. By systematically eliminating the excess size and weight, the company has cracked the code to making a foldable phone that doesn't feel like a compromise. It's a top-tier smartphone when you need it and an immersive tablet when you want it. The upgraded performance and high-resolution main camera further solidify its flagship status.

The removal of S Pen support and the return to a hole-punch camera are notable regressions, though the latter brings a welcome boost to image quality. In almost every meaningful way, Samsung has delivered on the promise of the foldable. You truly get the best of both worlds.

Unfortunately, the final and most significant barrier remains untouched: its $2,000 price tag. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the pinnacle of foldable design, a device that could genuinely change how you use your tech. But for now, that revolutionary experience remains a luxury few can afford.